updated 02:40 pm EDT, Thu August 17, 2006

Boeing Shuts Service

Hopes for widespread Internet access on passenger flights were dashed today when Boeing announced that it would shut down Connexion, which provides Internet access for laptop users onboard long-haul trips arriving in or departing from major US airports. The service simply hadn't been progressing at the expected rate, the company said. Multiple foreign airlines are affected, including Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, and Korean Air. Before the cancellation, flyers could pay $10 per hour of access or $27 for an entire flight. There is no word on whether the company is investigating alternatives or if there is a definite timeframe for the end of the service.

Connexion Constrained

While demand for Connexion may be low, also consider the impacts of security and regulatory constraints see: http://news.digitaltrends.com/article11124.html
My interpretation of the later article suggests the service was never available in US airspace.
Anyone know for sure?

Connexion and the US

Connexion was only available for long-haul flights, which rules out North American flights as a general rule. Unless, of course, you count the short time a given plane would spend over the US on its way to a major airport...